Playwright Lorraine Hansberry will be immortalized in a biopic about her road to success during the 1950′s-60′s, sources say. Hansberry originated the classic stageplay, “A Raisin in the Sun,” and she (more…)

Nina Simone’s former husband and business partner should not have the legal right to a number of Simone’s recordings, a federal magistrate judge found. Defendant Andrew Stroud was married to Nina (more…)

A new exhibit at the Historical Society of the Nyacks honors local African-American entrepreneurs. “African American Entrepreneurs 1800-Present” was curated by Bill Batson. Cynthia Hesdra, who was born in Tappan (more…)

In a contest on AllPoetry.com, a Nina Simone song-based poetry contest is open for submissions: http://allpoetry.com/contest/2631843-Nina-Simone Write a new poem inspired by one of Nina Simone’s songs. Specify the name of (more…)

After three successful runs of the one-woman show Black Is the Color of My Voice, Apphia Campbell returns with a two-night Nina Simone review, presented in association with JZ Onstage. Campbell (more…)

Mae Carol Jemison (born October 17, 1956) is an American physician and NASA astronaut. She became the first black woman to travel in space when she went into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992. After her medical (more…)

The African Renaissance Monument is a 49m tall bronze statue located on top of one of the twin hills known as Collines des Mamelles, outside of Dakar, Senegal. Built overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in the Ouakam suburb, the statue was designed (more…)

Prince Whipple, a black man, crossed the Delaware with George Washington African American soldier Prince Whipple crossed the River with General George Washington on December 25, 1779, on the eve (more…)

BLACK HISTORY MONTH, DAY 1: James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967) Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one (more…)

The Legacy of Nina

She was one of the most extraordinary artists of the twentieth century, an icon of American music. She was the consummate musical storyteller, a griot.

As she would come to learn, who used her remarkable talent to create a legacy of liberation, empowerment, passion, and love through a magnificent body of works. She earned the moniker ‘High Priestess of Soul’ for she could weave a spell so seductive and hypnotic that the listener lost track of time and space as they became absorbed in the moment. She was who the world would come to know as Nina Simone.

Many Faces of Simone

Ledisi on Nina’s Influence

I remember the first time I heard a Nina Simone song on the radio. It was on a public radio station in the Bay area and the song was "Trouble in Mind." It was a beautiful Sunday and I was sitting in my white rocking chair on my porch.

Her Naked Truth Shocked Me

“When I was an aspiring young artist searching for my voice, purpose, and direction, my early teachers took note of the fire burning in my belly, and they individually fanned the flame into passion, by introducing me to great Black women artists who presented their artistry with clarity and unrestrained courage.

One of those great women was the unmistakable, Ms. Nina Simone. I am eternally grateful to my teachers for this particular introduction."